London to Paris 2014 rider profiles: Rathbones' James Maltin and Marcus Holden-Craufurd

Training has stepped up a gear, writes Libby Ashby. Last weekend, I completed two 50-mile rides back to back. I felt exhausted on Sunday evening but proud of my achievement and a little apprehensive over how much further and longer the real challenge will be.

With a sense of triumph and trepidation, I went to meet Marcus Holden-Craufurd (pictured) and James Maltin, investment directors at Rathbones, near their Green Park office to hear how their training was coming along.

Holden-Craufurd is used to the long training rides because last summer he cycled from Land’s End to London in aid of the children’s charity, Rays of Sunshine. Similar to our looming London to Paris challenge, Holden-Craufurd and 14 others completed 350 miles over four days, raising £35,000 for the charity.

‘I did 1,000 miles in training for Land’s End to London. I was worried so I trained hard and subsequently surprised myself by how well it went,’ he told me.

‘It was a fantastic experience and I’m looking forward to cycling in a group and tackling another challenge for a great cause.’

Nevertheless, fitting in the long rides at weekends is hard when he has children’s cricket matches to attend as well as social commitments. However, his career prior to wealth management will hold him in good stead on the road to Paris.
‘I was in the army so I’m bloody-minded and have stamina lurking somewhere deep inside,’ he told me.

Maltin seems to be at the other end of the training spectrum. Being a late sign-up to Catley Lakeman’s sponsor team, his training is somewhat behind. He has done four 50-mile training rides – his first was when he joined us on the way to Brighton a few weeks ago. But he is unlikely to have a chance to get on his bike again before we set off on 19 June.

Climbing Mount Toubkal in Morocco next weekend and other plans means his only remaining times to train will before work at 5.30am.

Asked how he was feeling about the event, he replied: ‘With my lack of training, I’ve taken the view that I’ll just turn up and it’ll happen. I’ll get there one way or another’.

Fortunately, Maltin has done long distance cycling before, just not for a while. His last cycling challenge was 14 years ago. In 2000, he cycled for a fortnight in the Beijing district, part of which was along the Great Wall of China, in aid of learning disability charity Mencap. ‘It was tough cycling for 14 days straight but by the end of it I was incredibly fit,’ he said.

Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research London to Paris 2014 is sponsored by Catley Lakeman Securities.

Training App Stats: Marcus Holden-Craufurd and James Maltin

Longest ride to date:

Marcus Holden-Craufurd: 70 miles for L2P training/ 110 miles one day from Land’s End to London

James Maltin: 52 miles for L2P training/100 miles on a two-week ride in China

Current training hours per week:

MH-C: 10 hours a week including weekend ride

JM: Five hours a week

Last training route:

MH-C: Mayfield to Eastbourne

JM: Pimlico, Richmond, Epsom, Barnstead, Croydon, Pimlico

Speed group aimed for:

MH-C: Medium

JM: Medium

Type of bike:

MH-C: Cannondale Synapse

JM: Specialized Roubaix

Best piece of kit:

MH-C: Cycling cap underneath my helmet and the little pouch on my bike where I keep my phone and jelly beans for sustenance

JM: Sunglasses

How on track are you with training schedule?

MH-C: 7

JM: 1

Confidence level/Fear factor/Level of determination:

MH-C: 8 / 2 / 9

JM: 7 / 5 / 8

Favourite high energy snacks:

MH-C: Jelly beans, bananas and flapjacks

What are you most looking forward to?

MH-C: Seeing the Eiffel Tower when we come into Paris

JM: Cycling up the Champs-Élysées

What are you least looking forward to?

MH-C: The hills in Kent

JM: Getting there!

First thing you’ll do when you cross the finish line?

MH-C: Have a beer

JM: Have a massage

Top tip:

MH-C: Eat well and have decent water bottle you can easily drink from. And the right pressure in your tyres

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